Terps in Baltimore to Face WVU on Saturday

Maryland Athletics

9-16-2013

COLLEGE PARK, MD. - The University of Maryland football team renews its border rivalry with West Virginia at 3:32 p.m. on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. The Terps are coming off of a 32-21 victory at Connecticut behind 501 yards of total offense. With the win, the Terps improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2001. That year, Maryland won its first seven games of the season en route to a 10-2 record, an ACC championship and a spot in the Orange Bowl.

LIVE Coverage on the ESPNU & the Terrapin Sports Radio Network• Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPNU at 3:30 p.m. Anish Shroff (pbp) and Kelly Stouffer (color) will call the action. It can also be heard on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (pbp), Tim Strachan (color) and Scott McBrien (sideline) have the call. The game can also be heard on Sirius Radio Channel 117 and XM Radio Channel 202, as well as over the internet at www.umterps.com. The Toyota Tailgate pregame show with Glen Younes hits the network at 2:30 p.m.

First-and-10

• The University of Maryland football team renews its boarder rivalry with West Virginia at 3:32 p.m. on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. The Terps are coming off of a 32-21 victory at Connecticut behind 501 yards of total offense. With the win, the Terps improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2001. That year, Maryland won its first seven games of the season en route to a 10-2 record, an ACC championship and a spot in the Orange Bowl. In the Terps' three wins, the offense has totaled over 500 yards each time becoming one of only three schools in the nation to eclipse 500 yards of total offense in as many games. Defensively, the Terps applied constant pressure to UConn quarterback Chandler Whitmer. Maryland sacked Whitmer six times and forced him to throw two interceptions, while holding the Huskies to 25 yards rushing. The six sacks by the Terrapin defense are the most since totaling six against Virginia on Oct. 1, 2005.

• The usual suspects played a major role in the Terps' offensive performance at UConn as Maryland showed good balance with 277 yards passing and 224 yards rushing. Quarterback C.J. Brown continues to be a dynamic run-pass threat. Brown threw for 277 yards on 15-of-28 passing and one touchdown, and rushed for a season-high 122 yards and one score. The 399 yards accounted for by Brown is tied for the 19th-highest single-game total in the nation this season and is the most by a Maryland player since Danny O'Brien accounted for 408 total yards against NC State on Nov. 27, 2010. For the second consecutive game, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who ranks 13th nationally in all-purpose yards (176.67), went over 100 yards receiving finishing with five catches for 110 yards and one touchdown. On the score, Diggs took a bubble screen from Brown, and with blocking in front, worked his way into the end zone from 21 yards out. Diggs has at least one receiving touchdown in five of his last seven games played dating back to last season. Wide receivers Levern Jacobs and Deon Long finished with 60 and 39 yards receiving, respectively. One of Jacobs' two receptions was a career-high 48-yard sprint down the right sideline to set up a Brad Craddock field goal just before halftime.

• Maryland's 3-4 defensive scheme consistently applied pressure on Connecticut quarterback Chandler Whitmer totaling a season-high six sacks, forcing two interceptions and holding the Huskies to 25 yards rushing. Through three games, the Terps are holding opponents to 96.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks third in the ACC and is tied for 14th nationally. Despite three Maryland turnovers, including two in the third quarter, the defense held the Huskies to just three points off of those turnovers. Linebacker Marcus Whitfield, who leads the nation with 5.5 sacks, led the team with a career-high three sacks. Whitfield's final sack led to a safety as the senior applied pressure off the right side causing an intentional grounding call against Whitmer in the end zone. Whitfield was joined by linebacker Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil, who also had a career high with 2.5 sacks. Senior defensive back Dexter McDougle had both of the Terrapin interceptions, returing one for his second career touchdown weaving his way through the Huskies offense for a 49-yard score. McDougle's effort earned him Athlon Sports ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors and ACC Defensive Back of the Week. Linebacker Cole Farrand led the team in tackles with a personal-best 12.

• Special teams played an important part in the Maryland win. For the first time this season, defensive back William Likely was the focal point of the return game. Likely had three kick returns for 110 yards including a long of 45 yards. Place kicker Brad Craddock made 3-of-4 field goal attempts including a season-long 40-yard attempt. On the season, the sophomore has made 7-of-8 fieldgoal attempts. Punter Nathan Renfro averaged 43.4 yards per attempt on Saturday including two punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

Quick Hitters

• With 501 yards of total offense against Connecticut, Maryland has recorded over 500 yards of total offense in all three games this season. Since the 1983 season, no other Maryland team has eclipsed the 500-yard mark in three or more consecutive games

• Additionally, Maryland is one of only three teams nationally who have played three games this season to have totaled 500 or more yards of total offense in every contest joining Oregon and California.

• Maryland has had a player rush for over 100 yards and a player with over 100 yards receiving in all three games. Dating back to the 1987 season, no other Terrapins have accomplished the feat in three consecutive games. Quarterback C.J. Brown rushed for 105 yards, while wide receiver Deon Long had 110 yards receiving in the season opener against FIU. Against ODU, running back Brandon Ross totaled 149 rushing yards and wide receiver Stefon Diggs had 179 receiving yards. On Saturday, Brown had 122 yards rushing and Diggs totaled 110 yards receiving.

• When linebacker Marcus Whitfield forced an intentional grounding call in the end zone on UConn quarterback Chandler Whitmer, the Terps tallied their second safety in as many games. The last time the Terps had two or more safeties in a season came in 1985. Maryland scored a safety against Penn State on Sept. 7 and one against Duke on Oct. 26.

• Wide receiver Stefon Diggs has 16 catches for 387 yards to lead the team and is averaging 24.2 yards per catch. His per catch average is the fourth highest nationally among receivers with 10 or more receptions and his 129.0 receiving yards per game average leads the ACC and ranks sixth nationally.

• As part of Maryland's six-sack barrage at UConn, linebacker Marcus Whitfield recorded a career-high three, tied with five other players nationally for the most in a single-game this season. In addition, his 5.5 sacks on the year lead the nation. Shawne Merriman had three sacks against North Carolina on Nov. 2, 2002, and was the last Terp to reach that total. Whitfield was named ACC Linebacker of the Week for his effort.

• Led by Whitfield, the six sacks totaled by the Maryland defense are the most in a single-game for the Terps since recording the same number on Oct. 1, 2005, against Virginia.

• Senior quarterback C.J. Brown accounted for 399 yards of total offense on Saturday (277 pass/122 rush). That mark is tied for the 19th-highest single-game total this season.

• Defensive back Dexter McDougle had a career-high two interceptions returning one 49 yards for his second career touchdown. He is the first Maryland player to return an INT for a touchdown since A.J. Hendy returned one 32 yards against NC State on Nov. 26, 2011. His two picks increased his season total to three, which is tied for the most in the nation.

• McDougle's 49-yard interception return for a touchdown is the first non-offensive touchdown for Maryland this season. Since 2009, the Terps have 18 non-offensive touchdowns, that total is the most in the ACC.

• Head coach Randy Edsall awarded game balls for the win over Connecticut. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs received the award for the offense, defensive back Dexter McDougle on defense, and place kicker Brad Craddock for special teams.

Terp Notes

Scout Team Players of the Week: Each Thursday during the season Edsall will announce the scout team players of the week. This week's scout team players of the week are Derrick Hayward (offense), defensive lineman Chandler Burkett (defense), and linebacker Jalen Brooks (special teams).

Flag Bearers: Defensive back Anthony Nixon will carry the American Flag, and wide receiver Stefon Diggs will carry the Maryland flag during Saturday's introductions.

Game Captains: With the establishment of the leadship council for this season, Edsall will name game captains prior to each contest. The captains for the West Virginia game are tight end Dave Stinebaugh (offense), linebacker Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil (defense), and defensive back William Likely (special teams).

Maryland-West Virginia Series History

• The Terps and Mountaineers will meet for the 49th time on Saturday, but it's only the second time Maryland and WVU have met at a neutral site. The previous meeting was at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., for the 2003 Gator Bowl, a game won by the Terps 41-7.

• Maryland trails the all-time series with WVU, 21-26-2, and the Mountaineers have won seven straight meetings with the Terps.

• The Terps' last win over the Mountaineers during the regular season also came in 2003 as Maryland defeated WVU, 34-7, in College Park (9/20).

Parking Information

• Plan to arrive early to avoid heavy stadium traffic and the evening rush hour traffic. Stadium parking lots will open at 10:30 AM, and stadium gates will open at 1:30 PM.

• Follow the suggested transportation routes below for the parking lot you have been assigned to.